Knife review videos

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DocT

Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
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I watch car and motorcycle review videos and many of them are very well done. The photography is good, and the scripts are often good, but not always. However, in many of them, they actually give impressions as they are actually using (gasp!) them. I can get real useful information.

I watch gun review videos and some of them are okay and some just plain stupid. The good ones give real tests, actually have something to say that is relevant, and tell me things I would like to know.

When we look at knife reviews, I find a lot of rambling, poorly constructed reviews, unhelpful information, no real world use and comments upon that use, a lot of drunken sounding talking off topic, and a lot of plain disappointment. I guess there is no stopping them, but come on folks! I think the knife community can turn out better reviews than a 6 year old with a camera.
 
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DocT said:
I watch car and motorcycle review videos and many of them are very well done. The photography is good, and the scripts are often good, but not always. However, in many of them, they actually give impressions as they are actually using (gasp!) them. I can get real useful information.

I watch gun review videos and some of them are okay and some just plain stupid. The good ones give real tests, actually have something to say that is relevant, and tell me things I would like to know.

When we look at knife reviews, I find a lot of rambling, poorly constructed reviews, unhelpful information, no real world use and comments upon that use, a lot of drunken sounding talking off topic, and a lot of plain disappointment. I guess there is no stopping them, but common folks! I think the knife community can turn out better reviews than a 6 year old with a camera.
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Be the change you want to see. Lead by example.
 
You've got to consider , most of these poor suckers spend more time , energy and money than they ever make back .

It's a free resource , that I'm thankful to have available . I usually scan thru the unknowns on mute , mining for gold while discarding the dross . ;)
 
DocJD said:
You've got to consider , most of these poor suckers spend more time , energy and money than they ever make back .

It's a free resource , that I'm thankful to have available . I usually scan thru the unknowns on mute , mining for gold while discarding the dross . ;)
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I think the poor suckers at least like supporting the hobby.
 
I messed around with making videos a year ago. I bought some editing software and beefed up my PC. Got a couple of Go Pro cameras, mounting hardware, SIM cards, and learned how to use them.

I spent time building basic storyboards to give the video a flow. Toyed with a few catch phrases and repeatable tests, etc. Not to mention buying knives, and working at gaining some elements of skill at using them to gain credibility.

What I learned early on, is that it was a lot of work, and took a lot of time. It has to be a labor of love.

There are some gems out there. The industry community is small enough that it’s going to be difficult to gain enough viewership and consistent content that justifies the effort financially.

This is just my personal opinion...which ain’t worth much. :)
 
DocJD said:
You've got to consider , most of these poor suckers spend more time , energy and money than they ever make back .

It's a free resource , that I'm thankful to have available . I usually scan thru the unknowns on mute , mining for gold while discarding the dross . ;)
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Hmmm. Noted. What if it’s not about money, though?

This poor sucker got to check out a custom prototype and give feedback for Ray Laconico...

 
Banter 247 said:
Hmmm. Noted. What if it’s not about money, though?

This poor sucker got to check out a custom prototype and give feedback for Ray Laconico...

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Certainly . I simply meant to say we should not be too critical . Take what's useful and leave the rest . ;)
 
DocJD said:
Certainly . I simply meant to say we should not be too critical . Take what's useful and leave the rest . ;)
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It’s all gravy, sir. Just having fun. My honest feeling is, I can’t do reviews or put my thoughts out there without understanding that I’m inviting others to critique me or put their thoughts out there, as well. Turnabout is fair play!
 
I am all for people making videos, but at least they should get their facts straight before putting them up for viewers to see. People get influenced by what they watch on YouTube and other such media. I also appreciate it when people actually use their knives and show what they can and cannot do. I would also like to hear less off topic rants. All I am asking is that these reviewers step up their game, learn to speak properly, get their facts in order, or only show the knives and keep quiet.
 
The truth is that not everybody can communicate well on camera, even if they worked a lot on it. Many people can and do improve considerably with practice and experience, but not everybody has the knack for it to begin with. There usually has to be some degree of natural inclination for it, which gives the speaker at least the minimal amount of charisma, confidence, competence; plus, proper diction...yes, even for knife review videos. One has to be able to hold the listener's attention while essentially talking to him/herself, AND really know their subject and how to present it. This is even more crucial when someone is 'winging it'.

In a similar vein, not everybody has what it takes to be a news anchor, a screen actor, or a good public speaker. Even if someone learns and masters all of the "basics" of presenting on camera, some will have the "it" factor and some never will.

Jim
 
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I’ve definitely noticed a tendency towards unfocused rambling in knife videos, and I think this is due to nearly all of them being single-take videos with no script.

Using one camera angle and one take means you cannot make cuts without it being sudden and awkward. Getting the lighting right for a shot takes time and effort that is probably difficult to justify when your viewcount and/or profitability is small.

Doing it all in one take also means you’re less likely to start over because of the required time investment. Shooting something in separate shots reduces how much time you have to spend fixing one mistake, and allows you to cut uninteresting or unrelated video seamlessly.

I would put Advanced Knife Bro at the top of the list for most competent and engaging knife reviewer. He:
- does multiple takes
- narrates over recorded video
- has varying shots
- writes a script
- edits his video
Without checking, I’m pretty sure most of his videos clock in at under 10 minutes. He’s doing it right.
 
Comeuppance said:
I’ve definitely noticed a tendency towards unfocused rambling in knife videos, and I think this is due to nearly all of them being single-take videos with no script.

Using one camera angle and one take means you cannot make cuts without it being sudden and awkward. Getting the lighting right for a shot takes time and effort that is probably difficult to justify when your viewcount and/or profitability is small.

Doing it all in one take also means you’re less likely to start over because of the required time investment. Shooting something in separate shots reduces how much time you have to spend fixing one mistake, and allows you to cut uninteresting or unrelated video seamlessly.

I would put Advanced Knife Bro at the top of the list for most competent and engaging knife reviewer. He:
- does multiple takes
- narrates over recorded video
- has varying shots
- writes a script
- edits his video
Without checking, I’m pretty sure most of his videos clock in at under 10 minutes. He’s doing it right.
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Lots of insight in this quoted reply. My first video was a review of the Massdrop Keen (since made unlisted, and re-reviewed). I was hell bent on getting it in one take, while covering the knife in depth. It took 64 takes, over 5 days, and I would have probably given up if I hadn’t seen Auston’s “I am not a Reviewer” video 2-3 days into trying to do it.

Watched Nick’s “Behind the Gems” video, and took away notes about shooting in segments and using a format to manage direction and flow. That was game changing.

As for total time— we each manage that differently. Chuck at Shortcut Reviews is probably the king of brief format, and he uses halo lighting. My own approach is to front pack dimensional discussion and objective pieces, so that people who drop out after 6-7 minutes get that. From there, I work through very in-depth segments on various aspects of the knife. 20-25 minutes is normal overall length, but the most basic stuff is done covered in the first 6-8.

Scripts... can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the person. I found it beneficial to use a format, with dimension notes, but not leverage a written script. It’s easier for me to converse with the camera that way.

Daddyo EDC does a phenomenal job with his reviews. Very good content, very conversational, not dry at all. He’s also just a damn good human being.
 
Reviews are more often than not the only outlet for excitement and enthusiasm many of us collectors have.

I too have contemplated creating videos and such and may inevitably do so, if I'm ever not so desperately late to the game that is.

It was however the very lack of catharsis that inspired me to do so. I have knives worth what some of my friends and neighbors drive around on a daily. These aren't people I can share my hobby with for the most part, at least not to the extent in which I've grown it to.

That's where the forums come in. The videos. That's called community. A lot of the guys you're rebuking for less than stellar scripts and cinematography are just guys, like us, trying to share their excitement about their new toy.

When I get a knife I'm crazy about, I watch all of the videos. Good, bad, between...I'm grateful I have them and that there are other like minds out there.
 
This guy had a lot to say, and didn't say a word. Everything was on point and he showed what the knife would do.

 
I do not watch many of the reviewer vids because there are so many out there. Has BF ever done a poll for the best/most respected/professional/etc. independent reviewers? Members mention a lot of names, but is there a ranked consensus?
 
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